Cleaning sheet

ABSTRACT

A cleaning sheet adapted to be attached to the head ( 20 ) of a cleaning tool ( 2 ). The cleaning sheet has a wiping portion ( 1 A) that is disposed on the bottom of the head ( 20 ) when the cleaning sheet is attached to the head ( 20 ). The cleaning sheet has projecting parts ( 10 ) and ( 11 ) in the wiping portion ( 1 A) which stick out of the forward and backward edges of the head ( 20 ) by a projecting length M when the cleaning sheet is attached to the head ( 20 ). The projecting parts ( 10 ) and ( 11 ) have a repulsive force of 0.1 to 100 N/cm when deformed by a length M/3 in the direction opposite the projecting direction. The projection ( 10 ) preferably has pointed tips.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disposable cleaning sheet that ismostly adapted to be attached to a cleaning tool and used to collectdust and debris, such as house dust.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of cleaning tools have been proposed for cleaning the surfaceof furniture, walls, and floors of houses, automotive interior trim, andthe like. Amongst them is a cleaning tool having a handle and a head towhich a cleaning sheet made of nonwoven fabric, etc. is attached.

The outer portion of the head of this type of a cleaning tool is made ofan elastic material so as not to scratch the surface to be cleaned. Thesheet attached to the head is a soft sheet formed of nonwoven fabric,etc. Therefore, it is often difficult with this kind of a cleaning sheetto sufficiently catch up dust and debris such as hairs, fluffy dust, andsoil dust (hereinafter inclusively referred to dust) gathering in thecorners of a room by a usual wiping operation.

In order to solve the problem, a cleaning sheet having a projectionsticking out of the edge of the cleaning head with which to trap dust isproposed as described in Japanese Utility Model 3927381. Merely having aprojection, the proposed cleaning sheet is not sufficiently effective incollecting dust.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning sheetcapable of surely collecting and trapping dust from a corner.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have investigated capabilities of a cleaning sheetin collecting dust from a corner. They have found as a result that theshape and the repulsive force of the fringe around a wiping portion,which is adapted to be disposed on the bottom of the head, of a cleaningsheet are important and thus reached the present invention.

The present invention has been completed based on the above finding. Itprovides a cleaning sheet adapted to be attached to the head of acleaning tool. The cleaning sheet has a projecting part in the wipingportion thereof that is adapted to be disposed on the bottom of thehead. When the cleaning sheet is attached to the head, the projectingpart sticks out of the edge of the head by a projecting length M, andthe projecting part has a repulsive force of 0.1 to 100 N/cm whendeformed by a length M/3 in the direction opposite the projectingdirection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan of a cleaning sheet according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective of the cleaning sheet of FIG. 1attached to the head of a cleaning tool.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective of a cleaning sheet according toanother embodiment of the present invention attached to the head of acleaning tool.

FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are each a schematic plan (corresponding toFIG. 1) of a cleaning sheet according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 5(b) are each a schematic plan (corresponding toFIG. 1) of a cleaning sheet according to still another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan (corresponding to FIG. 1) of a cleaning sheetaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan (corresponding to FIG. 1) of a cleaning sheetaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective of a cleaning sheet according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention attached to the head of acleaning tool.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective of a cleaning sheet according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention attached to the head of acleaning tool.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective of a cleaning sheet according to yetanother embodiment of the present invention attached to the head of acleaning tool.

FIG. 11(a), FIG. 11(b), and FIG. 11(c) each schematically illustrate theway of folding back a wiping sheet to make projecting parts of acleaning sheet according to the present invention, in which FIG. 11(a)shows the way of pleating the wiping sheet on the surface side and thereverse side, FIG. 11(b) shows the way of pleating the wiping sheet onthe same side to make pleat-shaped projecting parts, and FIG. 11(c)shows the way of pleating the wiping sheet on the surface side and thereverse side to make pleat-shaped projecting parts.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described based on its preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cleaning sheet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the cleaning sheet attached to thehead of a cleaning tool. In FIGS. 1 and 2 numerals 1 and 2 indicate acleaning sheet and a cleaning tool, respectively. The dashed line inFIG. 1 indicates the position of the head 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning sheet 1 is substantially rectangular inits plan view. The cleaning sheet 1 has a wiping portion 1A and fixingportions 1B provided on both sides of the wiping portion 1A. When thecleaning sheet 1 is attached to the plate-like head 20 of the cleaningtool 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the wiping portion 1A is disposed on thebottom side of the head 20, and the fixing portions 1B are fastened tothe upper side of the head 20.

While the cleaning sheet 1 is not particularly limited in size andshape, it is preferred that both length L and width W2 fall within +30%of the length and the width, respectively, of the bottom of the head 20of the cleaning tool 2. As the area of the head 20 of the cleaning tool2 increases, the wiping portion 1A of the cleaning sheet 1 should havean accordingly increased area. For general domestic applications, thelength L is preferably 170 to 340 mm, and the width W2 of the wipingportion 1A is preferably 70 to 230 mm. The area of the wiping portion 1Ais preferably 120 to 780 cm².

The cleaning sheet 1 has projecting parts 10 and 11 that stick out ofthe forward and backward edges of the head 20. The projecting parts 10and 11 each have a repulsive force of 0.1 to 100 N/cm, preferably 0.2 to50 N/cm, more preferably 0.3 to 10 N/cm, when deformed by ⅓ in thedirection opposite the projecting direction. If the repulsive force ofthe projecting parts 10 and 11 is less than 0.1, it is difficult for theprojecting parts to catch up dust because of small sweeping pressure,and sufficient cleaning effects are not obtained. If the repulsive forceexceeds 100 N/cm, the projecting parts can damage the surface to becleaned.

The repulsive force of the projecting part of the cleaning sheet ismeasured with CPU Gauge 9500 (available from Aikoh Engineering Corp.;rated capacity: 2 kgf; A type) as follows. The cleaning sheet isattached around a plate having the same size and shape as the head ofthe cleaning tool. The projecting part is pressed by the 10 mm wideterminal of the gauge in the direction opposite the projectingdirection. The value read when the projecting part is deformed byone-third of its length in that direction is taken as a repulsive force(N) per width of the terminal (1 cm).

The projecting parts 10 and 11 preferably stick out 1 to 50 mm, morepreferably 3 to 30 mm, (i.e., projecting length M) from the respectiveedges of the head 20 (from the forward and the backward ends in thisembodiment). With a too short projecting length, the projecting partfails to exhibit sufficient sweeping function, and the wiping portion 1Ahas a small area, which may result in reduced dust collecting capacity.Too long a projecting length M results in a reduced repulsive force andcan result in reduction of the cleaning effect of the projecting parts10 and 11.

In the present embodiment, the projecting part 10 has a straight edge,while the projecting part 11 has a zigzag edge like a mountain chain.The number of teeth (the number of mountains) of the zigzag edge can beadjusted according to the base length and pitch of the teeth, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning sheet 1 of the present embodiment isbasically composed of a base sheet 12 and a wiping sheet 13 that isfixed by adhesion to almost the middle region of the base sheet 12. Theprojecting parts 10 and 11 are provided as a fringe of the forward andbackward sides of the wiping sheet 13.

The base sheet 12 is not particularly limited in shape and material aslong as it is attachable to the head 20. Taking into consideration easeof attaching to the head 20, capability of continuing being attached tothe head 20, stiffness, and like properties of the cleaning sheet 1,preferred sheets as the base sheet 12 include fabric (either nonwoven orwoven), paper, synthetic resin-containing paper, elastic sheets, and asynthetic resin sheet having an adhesive layer. Where a sheet having anadhesive layer on the area corresponding to the wiping portion 1A isused, the wiping sheet 13 can be adhered and fixed thereon.

The base sheet 12 preferably has a basis weight of 5 to 100 g/m² fromthe viewpoint of operationality, fabricability, stiffness, andflexibility. The base sheet 12 preferably has a thickness of 0.005 to 3mm from the standpoint of operationality, fabricability, stiffness, andflexibility.

The wiping sheet 13 can be of any material that has been used incleaning sheets designed to catch up dust by entanglement or adsorption.For example, paper (including synthetic resin-containing paper), fabric(nonwoven or woven), film or pile fabric can be used. In addition, thecleaning sheet described in JP-A-7-184815, paragraphs [0008] to [0018]is also useful. The wiping sheet 13 may be one impregnated with a liquidcontaining at least one of oils, such as mineral oils, synthetic oils,and silicone oils, and surface active agents to develop adsorptivity fordust.

The wiping sheet 13 preferably has a basis weight of 20 to 400 g/m² fromthe viewpoint of operationality, fabricability, stiffness, andflexibility. From the same viewpoint, the wiping sheet 13 preferably hasa thickness of 0.5 to 10 mm.

The projecting parts 10 and 11 in the fringe of the wiping sheet 13 canbe provided with the above-specified repulsive force by any method, forexample, thickening the projecting parts, raising or indenting thesurface of the projecting parts by embossing or molding, increasing thebasis weight of the projecting parts, or reinforcing the projectingparts with another material superposed on the upper side of the wipingsheet 13 in the area corresponding to the projecting parts. In this way,the specific repulsive force required for performing the sweepingfunction can be imparted to the projecting parts 10 and 11 withoutimpairing the dust collecting capabilities of the lower side of theprojecting parts.

The cleaning sheet 1 is attached to the head 20 and used in a usualmanner of wiping. It is capable of collecting and trapping dust, such ashairs, fluffy dust or soil dust, through entanglement with or adsorptiononto the fibers of its wiping portion 1A. In particular, although theperipheral portion of the head 20 is made of an elastic material, thecleaning sheet 1 is capable of sweeping dust gathering, e.g., in acorner of a room with its projecting parts 10 and 11 having the desiredrepulsive force and then trapping the dust. This function can beaccomplished without impairing the dust collecting capabilities of thelower side of the wiping sheet 13. Because the projecting parts 10 and11 are differently shaped, a user can choose whichever projecting partfit for the shape of the corner to be cleaned and suitable to sweep thedust from the corner.

FIGS. 3 through 7 depict other embodiments of the present invention. Inthese figures, the same members as used in the cleaning sheet 1 aregiven the same reference numerals as in the cleaning sheet 1, and thedescription therefor will be omitted. With respect to those particularswhich are not explained hereunder, the description on the cleaning sheet1 applies accordingly.

The cleaning sheet 1′ of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is composedsolely of a wiping sheet. The wiping sheet 13 has pleat-shapedprojections 10 each having the above-specified repulsive force and beingadapted to stick out of the edges of the head 20 (the forward andbackward edges in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3) with a predeterminedprojecting length M. The pleat-shaped projections 10 are formed byfolding back the wiping sheet 13 and fixing the folds by heat sealing orsewing or with an adhesive or a like means. In this embodiment, theprojecting parts 10 are formed by folding back the wiping portion 1Atoward the same side (either the surface side or the reverse side). Thecleaning sheet 1′ of this embodiment not only produces the same effectsas by the cleaning sheet 1 but achieves material and production costsaving. The repulsive force can easily be adjusted by the position tofold back.

FIGS. 4(a), 4(b), 5(a), and 5(b) show modifications to the shape of theprojecting parts of the cleaning sheet 1′. The projecting parts of thecleaning sheet 1′ shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are wedge-shaped fringeswhose edges slope upward from the widthwise middle in the left and rightdirections of the sheet 1′. The projecting parts of the cleaning sheet1′ shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are discontinuous arrays ofpolygonal(e.g., trapezoidal or rectangular) or semi-circularprojections. These cleaning sheets 1′ are effective similarly to theabove-described cleaning sheet 1. The shape of the projecting parts canbe chosen according to the object to be cleaned.

FIG. 6 shows a cleaning sheet 1′ having projecting parts 10 sticking outof the left and right short side edges of the head 20 (in the sheetlength L direction). The cleaning sheet 1′ according to this embodimentproduces the same effects as by the cleaning sheet 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a cleaning sheet 1′ having fixing portions 1B whichextend from the forward and backward edges of the projecting parts 10 tothe respective fastening members 20 a of the head 20 of the cleaningtool 2. The cleaning sheet 1′ according to this embodiment not onlyproduces the same effects as by the cleaning sheet 1 but leads to agreat saving of the base sheet, which results in reduction of productioncost. In addition, the cleaning sheet 1′ is reversibly usable.

The present invention is by no means limited to the aforementionedembodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The cleaning sheet of the present invention preferably has such astructure that the wiping sheet 13 is fixedly superposed on the surfaceside of the base sheet 12 like the cleaning sheet 1 according to theaforementioned embodiment. It is also possible that the wiping sheet 13is fixedly superposed on both sides of the base sheet 12 to make areversible cleaning sheet.

While the cleaning sheet of the present invention preferably has theprojecting part on both the forward and the backward edges as in thecleaning sheet 1 of the above-described embodiment, the projecting partmay be provided on only one of the forward and backward edges, or theprojecting part may be provided on only one of the left and right sideedges. It is also possible for the cleaning sheet to have the projectingpart on both the forward and backward edges or both the left and rightside edges.

The configuration of the projecting parts can be altered appropriatelyas long as the above-specified repulsive force can be secured.

For example, the projecting parts that are continuous in thelongitudinal direction of the wiping sheet 13 as in the cleaning sheet1′ of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 may be made discontinuous by makingslits 100 at a regular interval in the transverse direction asillustrated in FIG. 9 or making cutouts to a desired shape (e.g., amountain shape or a rectangular shape). As shown in FIG. 10, the loopedfolds of the wiping sheet 13 can be slit in the sheet length directionto make projecting parts 10 open toward the respective projectingdirections. The above-described discontinuous configuration and openconfiguration may be used in combination. If desired, the cleaning sheetmay have a plurality of pleat-shaped projecting parts formed by foldingback repeatedly, or may have a projecting part projecting from only theleft and right side edges of the head, or may have a projecting partprojecting from each of the four edges of the head.

The manner of folding back for making a pleat-shaped projecting part isnot particularly restricted. For example, the wiping sheet 13 can befolded back to the surface side and the reverse side to form therespective projecting parts 10, which provides a reversible sheet, asshown in FIG. 11(a). Where the wiping sheet is folded back repeatedly,it may be folded back to the same side to make projecting parts 10 onthe same side as shown in FIG. 11(b), or the sheet may be folded back todifferent sides to make a projecting part 10 on each side thereof.

The method of fixing the wiping sheet to the base sheet is notparticularly limited. For example, the fixing can be performed byadhesion as in the case of the cleaning sheet 1 of the aforementionedembodiment, heat sealing, sewing, and the like.

The form and material of the fixing portions of the cleaning sheet arenot limited and can be altered appropriately according to the shape ofthe cleaning tool's head.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a cleaning sheet with which dust cansurely be swept, collected, and trapped from a corner.

1. A cleaning sheet adapted to be attached to the head of a cleaning tool and having a wiping portion adapted to be disposed on the bottom of the head, the cleaning sheet having a projecting part in the wiping portion, the projecting part being adapted to stick out of the edge of the head by a projecting length M when the cleaning sheet is attached to the head, and the projecting part having a repulsive force of 0.1 to 100 N/cm when deformed by a length M/3 in the direction opposite the projecting direction thereof.
 2. The cleaning sheet according to claim 1, comprising a base sheet and a wiping sheet disposed on the surface of the base sheet and having the projecting part as a fringe of the wiping sheet. 